Nigeria Content Online

Former minister of
information and candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance
(APGA), Dora Akunyili, has described the Anambra Central senatorial
district election won by Chris Ngige as marred by violence,
intimidation and malpractices.

The Independent
National Electoral Commission, yesterday, announced Mr. Ngige the
winner of the rerun with a total of 69,765 against Mr Akunyili’s
69,292. But the former minister and her party in separate media
interviews yesterday picked holes in the election with the party
hinting it could contest the results in court.

According to Mrs
Akunyili, her agents suffered intimidation and molestation in such
areas as Nkpor and Enugwu Ukwu with some of them even being chased away
and forced to hide their tags to evade identification. In other cases
she said the real voters were disenfranchised to enable fake voters to
come and vote for ACN and noted that despite that, Mr Ngige’s victory
margin was low.

“I’m appalled by
the level of violence and thuggery and feel more pained by that than my
not being declared winner,” Mrs Akunyili said. She said she complained
to the state governor, Peter Obi, who chose the option of following due
process.

Mrs Akunyili,
however, said she harbours no bitterness and will continue to work for
the good of Nigeria and Anambra State as, according to her, she
believes in President Goodluck Jonathan, Mr Obi and the INEC chairman
Attahiru Jega.

She said INEC did a credible job but could not have been everywhere at the same time.

“I wish everybody luck and God’s choicest blessings,” she said.

She said she will
consult with Mr Obi, her supporters and family on the next step to take
but refused to congratulate Mr. Ngige saying he did not win in a fair
manner.

Set for court

Meanwhile in an
earlier press briefing, the state chairman of the APGA Mike Kwentoh
said the party would take all necessary steps to seek legal redress.

“In our
characteristic manner which is in tandem with the disposition of the
governor we call on all APGA supporters to remain calm and law abiding.
We shall seek every necessary redress through due process,” Mr Kwentoh
said.

Meanwhile the
victorious candidate, Mr Ngige yesterday received a group of youth
corps members from Anambra State who fled for safety from their areas
of primary assignment in various parts of the North.

While assuring them of his concern for their plight, Mr Ngige
thanked the people of the state for their support which helped him to
win his first ever election. He promised to be responsive to their
needs as a senator.